RobGriz,
Why the hell do you do that?
Why the hell not? Maybe you haven't heard but they
are poisonous. I grew up in rattlesnake country and I do know people and dogs and horses that have been bit and while I do not know of anyone, other than a 3 year old boy who happened to be playing in his front yard in Great Falls MT, that died from it, everyone else got sicker than I ever care to be (although part of that is probably contributibal to anxiety more than anything) while enjoying the 45 minute ride to town to get some anti-venom and a nice little overnight stay at the hospital under observation. Also had a friend of mines son lose his middle finger when he got bit, killed the tissue. Didn't really bother him, but his girlfriend was pissed. Everyone, and I do mean
EVERYONE where I am from kills rattlesnakes when they see them, cause we got way more than we need in Montana. If you don't know of anyone that has ever been bit by a rattlesnake, than you don't live in rattlesnake country. Bad news too, they don't always buzz their cute little tails before they reach out and show you some love.
You don't have to kill 'em if you don't want too though.